Almost it’s impossible to predict how big your puppy will grow. Knowing your dogs breed and genetic history will help you make an estimate. As long as your puppy is getting a healthy diet and you keep an eye on their health, they can reach their full potential.

 

when do dogs stop growing

At what age is a dog full grown? 

In short, growth depends on dogs breed. The age that your dog finishes growing ultimately depends on its breed. There are many different breeds of dogs; While the smaller breed’s often taken less than one year to grow to their adult size, large breed dogs often need two to three years.

Toy Dog Breeds.

Toy breeds or small breeds are the smallest and will reach physical and sexual maturity the fastest. Your toy dog will stop growing anywhere from six months to one year old, depending on the breed. But which breeds classify as a toy or small breed? common examples to give you a good idea of what you are working with:

  • Pug
  • Dachshund
  • Chihuahua
  • Maltese
  • French Bulldog
  • Pomeranian
  • Shih Tzu

The Chihuahua, which can reach adult size in as little as 6 months, is one of the fastest-growing dogs. The Toy Poodle comes in second at 6 to 7 months of age. The Miniature Pinschers require an additional few months to reach adult size between 10 and 11 months.

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Medium Breeds.

Medium breed size dogs have more growth to complete than toy breeds, and consequently, take longer to reach their full size. Depending on your dog’s breed, they may stop growing anywhere from 12 to 24 months of age. A few examples of dogs that grow up to be medium-sized:

  • American Foxhound
  • Australian Shepherd
  • Basset Hound
  • Labrador retriever
  • Staffordshire Bull
  • English Bulldog
  • English springer spaniels
  • Dalmatian

Staffordshire Bull Terriers reach adult size at 12 months of age. Others take 18 months to growth fully. The English Bulldog usually reaches its adult size at 18 months of age. Basset Hounds and English Springer Spaniels can take up to 24 months to stop growing.

 

 

Large Dog Breeds.

Your loveable large breed puppy needs even more time to grow. Your large dog spends anywhere from 16 to 24 months growing to its full size, depending on its breed. These breeds are commonly known to grow into large dogs at the end of their growth stage:

  • Alaskan Malamute
  • Bernese Mountain Dog
  • Boxer
  • Belgian Malinois
  • Bullmastiff
  • German Shepherd
  • Cane Corso
  • Golden Retriever

The large breed Belgian Malinois can take anywhere from 16 to 19 months to reach their full size. The Cane Corso also finishes their growth at 19 months. The average age of adulthood for breeds such as the Rottweiler, Alaskan Malamute, and German Shepherd is between 18 and 24 months.

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Giant Breeds.

In contrast to a toy breed, which can finish growing by six months, giant breed dogs will continue to grow far past 12 months old. Depending on the breed, your giant breed dog can continue to grow until they are 12 to 30 months old! The pups are from giant breeds:

  • Great Dane
  • Bernard
  • Tibetan Mastiff
  • Great dean
  • Irish Wolfhound
  • Giant Schnauzer

Your Great Dane can finish growing at 18 to 24 months old. Similarly, a Tibetan Mastiff might grow at 19 to 24 months old. Irish Wolfhounds reach their adult height at 24 months old. Finally, the Bullmastiff stops growing at around 30 months old.

 

 

At what age do female dogs stop growing? 

Your female dog should stop growing around the same age as a male dog. This means that a male and a female could both stop growing simultaneously depending on their breed. However, a female dog tends to mature faster than a male dog. This means that they achieve reproductive abilities faster than males.

 

What happens after a year?

After a year or so, your puppy will have grown several inches in length. This means they have stopped growing the new bone or muscle tissue. New bone tissue and muscle tissue grow from within the body instead of being added to the existing cells. It is during this time that the joints and bones begin to mature. As the bones and muscles continue to develop, your puppy’s growth plates will close, and they will be unable to continue growing.

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Effective factors for puppy stops growing.

Besides your puppy’s breed, four other main factors determine how quickly and how much your puppy grows. These factors are your pup’s nutrition, genetics, hormone levels, and spay/neuter history.

 

when do dogs stop growing

 

Importance of neutering in growth and exercise

A common problem many owners face is where a dog that is not neutered continues to grow at an alarming rate. The culprit: inadequate nutrition. If you do not allow your pet the proper dog food they need, the result can be stunted growth. Neutering will ensure that your dog receives all of the nutrients they need and prevent your dog from developing a medical condition that could lead to other health problems.

Another problem faced by puppies and older dogs is bone and joint problems. Joint pain can result from stress placed on the joint, which in turn can lead to poor nutrition. Often, when a dog is kept indoors in a small space, the lack of space can cause arthritis to develop. When a dog has poor nutrition, it can easily succumb to bone and joint problems that can make it difficult or impossible for them to move around properly. In addition, an over-worked and cramped dog will not enjoy exercise like a fully fit pet. This inactivity can lead to muscle bulk and strength loss and stiffness and bone and joint pain.

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Another sign to look for when dogs stop growing is when the animal reaches adulthood. However, most breeds reach their full reproductive and sporting potential between seven and ten months old, as quickly as three years old. Younger dogs may not be interested in playing with you, and they may appear smaller than the average adult.

 

when do dogs stop growing

 

Genetic matters!

Sometimes genetics is the best predictor of how large a dog will grow. Every dog is different. Dogs can be slightly bigger or smaller than their parents. To predict how big they will grow, you can look at their parents. However, this is not a guarantee.

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Ask your vet!

The answer to whether or not your pet is growing is simple: ask your vet. Your vet will be able to run a full DNA test on the animals and will be able to tell you whether or not the tests are positive. Should the results show any signs of congenital disabilities or disease, your vet may recommend that you keep your dog and allow him to pass the test out to others. As you may know, genetic predispositions for some breeds are much higher than for others. If this is the case with your dog, you must find out if you can have him altered or take him off of his breed and place him with another like-minded dog. Chances are, the vet will recommend altering your canine to keep him healthy, happy, and off of your back.

 

Conclusion. 

When do dogs stop growing? To avoid disorders associated with rapid growth, avoid overfeeding your puppy. If you have a large puppy, you can further ensure joint health by feeding an appropriate amount of large breed puppy formula food, specifically formulated to support healthy growth and development in large breed puppies. While it can be bittersweet to watch your puppy growth, knowing when they will reach maturity and how to care for them in the meantime will contribute to a lifetime of health and wellbeing.

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